Adjusting means for planer-heads.



H. B. ROSS.

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR PLANER HEAD8.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 16, 1901.

v 919,958. Patented A m, 1909.

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H. B. ROSS.

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR PLANEB. HEADS.

APPLICATION rum) APB.15, 1907.

9 1 9,958. Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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H. B. ROSS. ADJUSTING MEANS FOR PLANER-HBADs.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1907.

919,958. I Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. B. ROSS. Amus'rme MEANS FOR PLANER HEADS.

' APPLIOATION HERD APR. 16, 1907. v 91 9,958 I Patented Apr. 27, 1909. y I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

umran stares P T NT @FFTCE.

HARRY B. ROSS, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO v BELOIT, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATIONOF WISCONSIN.

THE BERLIN MACHINE WORKS, or

V ADJUSTING MEANS FOR fLANER-HEADS Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. April 15, 1907.

Patented April 27, 1909. Serial No. 368,396.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. Rose, a l

citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjusting Means for Planer-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for ing the planer head of a timber sizer, but its use is not limited to machines ofthis character, since it is capable of advantageous employment in mechanisms of various-kinds where adjustments of parts are. desirable.

Its object is to provide a construction where-- by the Workman may shifta handle a vary-- ing amount corresponding tothe adjustment desired as indicated on a graduated scale and then release the same, the adjusting mechanism controlled by the; handle acting automatically to bring the planer head to the desired positionand stop it at that point. It is apparent then that with my improved device the attendant merely has to set the handle to the machine automatically accomplishes the ustment without further part of the workman. i

The preferred embodiment of my invention has a rod or shaft having a screwthreaded connection with the planer head, the rod also having means, such as a squared end for the application of a wrench or iandle, whereby a manual adjustment of the head may be secured by turning the rod. The automatic adjustment mentioned above, however, is securedby the mechanism set forth below. A constantly-rotated drivi ng shaft is provided and also a driven shaft, the latter having a rack and pinion connection with the threaded rod whereby movement of the head maybe obtained by a longitudinal shifting means of the rotation of the driven shaft and pinion. This driven shaft is connected to a short j aclr-shaft by a train of gears and the latter shaft is equipped with abevel gear with portions of which on opposite sides of its axis mesha pair of bevel pinions loosely mounted in the driving shaft, a double clutch being provided to temporarily connect either one of the bevel pinions to the shaft on which it is mounted, whereby turning of the driven shaft and movement of the planer adjustends of the segment of the scale the adjustment wanted and.

' dle in either direction until the attention on the driven shaft and. planer head also moving.

of the'rack and rod by.

handle becomes head in either direction may be secured. A suitable handle is provided for controlling the clutch, springs being supplied to return the handle automatically to its normal position, which corresponds to the inoperative condition of the clutch or clutches, after it has been displaced or shifted to one side rendering one clutch or the other active.

Mounted onthe driven shaft and adapted to rotate therewith is a scale graduated to agree with the adjustments of the planer head, and cocperating with this scale and adapted to be locked thereto in any position so as to turn therewith is a second clutchcontrolling or scale handle. This latter handle has integral therewith, or at least mountedso as to move simultaneously therewith, a segment, and the first mentioned clutch-controlling handle has a pair of ears or lugs coacting with the segment. When in normal position the segment or scale handle stands vertically, and, when in such position, the two lugs of the clutch handle overlap the handle preventing movement of the segment and han clutch handle had been shifted to one side. This displacement of the clutch handle throws one or the other clutch into operation and the scale begin to rotate, the

The operator can now turn the scale handle desired and lockit to the scale so that both will turn with the driven shaft and simultaneously with the movement of the planer head. ,As soonas thescale handle is thus shifted the segment coacting with one or the other lug or car of the clutch handle prevents the latter, from resuming its normal or ordinary position under the influence of its springs until the scale handle returnsto its normal vertical position whereupon the lugs snapover the ends of the segment, the scale locked in its natural or normal position, the clutch is thrown outof operation by the clutch handle shifting to cen tral or normal position, and the movement of the planer head ceases. Obviously the adjustment of the planer head is automatically secured and the graduation on the scale at the vertical or normal position of the scale handle at all times indicates the ad-' justment or position of the planer head whether the parts are. moving or are at rest.

to the adjustment Between the driving and driven shafts a frictional connection is interposed so that under abnormal conditions, if such happen, no breakage of any part of the device will occur.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, and on the various views like ref! erence characters refer to the same parts throughout. 7 V

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a timber sizer equipped with my improved adjusting means for the planer iead, certain parts of the mechanism being sectioned in order to more clearly illustrate the construction; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my improved adjusting means; Fig. 3 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a portion of the adjusting device; Fig. at is a rear end elevation of the machine certain parts being broken away and other parts being sectioned to more clearly show the details of the structure; Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of graduated scale; and Figs. 7 and 8 are views of a modification of controlling handles.

The complete timber sizer is a more or less complicated structure and in the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention and forming a part of this specification I have omitted as much of the machine as pos sible, at the same time showing the device sufliciently so that a complete understanding of my invention maybe had. In the machine as ordinarily constructed there are two planer heads for trimming or smoothing off the edges of the boards or planks and each has an automatic adjusting device similar to that described below, but on the drawing 1 have shown and in this specification I have described only one of these adjusting means since it will be apparent from an understanding of this construction that the same may be duplicated to secure proper adjnstments of both heads.

The main bed or table 10 of the timber sizer is supported on suitable side frames 11, 11 and at the forward end of the machine there is provided the usual roller 12 to aid in advancing the material to the planing knives. Extending longitudinally on top of bed 10 is a guide 18 against which one edge of the board or plank slides while its other edge is being planed. The cutter head 14: of the planer (Figs. 4 and 5) is fixed to an upright shaft 15 rotatably mounted in bearings 16 on a vertical support 17 which is adapted to slide horizontally crosswise the machine on a comparatively large stationary shaft or rod 18 and a transverse bar 19, the parts 18 and 19 being suitably supported at their ends on the side frames or supports 11, 11.

It Wlll be readily understood from an in- 53 passing around pulleys 5.4-

spection of Fig. 0 that the support 17 is provided ith a bearing 20 in which the cylindrical shaftor rod 18 slides. At its lower end the support .17 is suitably shaped so as to bear against the side of guide bar 19 and is held in position by a plate or strap Zl bolted to the member 17. The lower end of shaft 15 is supported in a step bearing 22 and the shaft is also equipped with a pulley 23 over which passes a driving belt 24:, power being supplied from any suitable source, not shown. Passing through the member 17 and l'raving a scrcw-tln'eaded comiection therewith is a transverse rod 25 which passes through the side frames 1.1 and is equipped at one end with an angular head 26 to which may be applied a handle or wrench for turning the rod and thereby manually adjusting the head. T he other end of the screwthreaded rod 25 is connected to a rack 27 slidably mounted in a casing 28 projecting laterally from the side of the machine and at its outer end supported by a. post 29. Meshing with. the teeth of this rack is a pinion 3O fixed to the end of a. driven or operating shaft 32 extended longitudinally of the machine and at one side thereof. At its rear end this shaft turns in a bearing 33 on the side of the casing 28 and at its front end it turns in two bearings 34.; and 35 at the top of an upright pillar or post 30. Keyed to shaft at its front end is a gear 37 which meshes with a smaller gear 38 on a short shaft- 39 rotatably mounted on the standard 36 below shaft 32, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. At the inner end of this short shaft a gear lO is provided which cooperates with a pinion 4-1 fixed to the rear end of a hollow shaft 4.2 suitably mounted in a bearing on the standard 36. A plate or disk lt-l is keyed to the front end of hollow shaft 1 .2, and also on the same end is loosely mounted a bevel gear tel. A rod 15 having heads 4:6 and LT at its front and rear ends extends through the hollow shaft and gear "-:l-, and a coiled expansion spring is interposed between the rear head 47 and the adjacent end of the hollow shaft. Between the adjacent faces of disk 43 and gear t4: is interposed a leather or other suitable washer 4:9 and it is the function of the spring-pressed rod 45 to pull the gear into o1 )erative frictional engagement with the washer and disk l -l so that under normal conditions a rotation of the gear causes a turning of the hollow shaft and the train of gearing mentioned above. However if for any reason it is impossible for the shaft to turn then the gear l -l can still revolve overcoming the frictional resistance between itself and the-disk -13.

Extended across the front end of the machine is a driving shaft 50 rotatably mounted in suitable boxes and driven from a power shaft 52 below it by means of a belt and 5.3 on

shafts 50 and 52 respectively. As will be readily understood, shaft 52 receives its rotation from any 'COIlVGlllGllll and (IlQSlIRblG source of power through one-or morepulfleys 56 mounted thereon. Loose on shaft 50' shaft 50 may be transmitted to gear 4 1 through one bevel pinion 57 or 58 according to the direction offshiftin'g of double clutch sleeve 59.

An arm or lever 61 pivoted on the standard 36 at thepoint 62 is connected at-its inner end to the double clut'ch'sleeve 59 and at its outer end is connected to a horizontal clutch-controlling handle 63I-by means of" a link 64 which at one end ext-endsloetween and is pivoted to two lugs 65 projectlng'outwardly from the hub'66 of'the handle, as clearly indicated on Fig. Handle 63 s}; rotatably supported on anvupright bolt 67 i gears, 38 and 3-7 to shaft 32.

passing through the hub of 'ithe handle-andalso through an outwardly extended bracket 68 bolted to standard 36. [Projecting forwardly from. the face of'the standard is a Xed stop 69 (Fig 2); against the oppo-.

site faces of which press the ends of a'pair of coil springs 70 and 71 which encircle-a rod 72 pivotally connected to one ofthe arms 65 of the handle hub. .The other ends of these springs abut against stops 73 and74,

on the rod and act tobring the handle 63 to its central or normal position after the same has been displaced or shifted to either side,

provided certain mechanism described below permits such return of the handle to its ordinary position. 7 a

A second clutch-controllingor scale handle-7 5 is loosely mounted on shaft 32 directly 1 in front of gear 37 and at its lower end has a substantially semi-circular segment 76 integral with or firmly fixed to the handle. The inner end of handle 63 broadened and is equipped with a pair of lugs or fingers 77 which in the normal position of both handles overlap the ends of seginent 76, as is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that handle cannot be swung in either direction without first shlfting handle 63 to one side or the other. On the side or face of handle 75 toward the gear 37 is mounted a spring-pressed pivoted manuallyactuated' locking dog 78 the foot or of which- 1s adapted to enter tions. of: which indicate adjust rents .of'jthe planer head: and are oppositenthe notches towhich direction he is considerably.

tongue any one of the notches or spaces between the teeth of gear inner face'of gear 37 so the dog 78 should enter to secure the adustment desired.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows 5-Assuming that it 'is desired to move theplaner head either inwardly or outwardly, that is toward or away from the guidel3, the operator grasps handle 63 and turns'it to one side or the other according desires to have the planer head move. This turning of the handlewithdraws one of the fingers or lugs 77 away from, one of theends of the semicircular segment '7 6 thereby freeing the ham-- dle 75 and allowing the same to be turned in one direction. As soon as handle 63 is moved to one side or the other one of the clutches 59'60 is rendered operative keying one of the bevel pinions 57 or 58 to the constantly rotating driving shaft 50 whereby the revolution of the latter is transmitted through the bevel gear 44 and the frictional connection between the bevel gear and disk -t3-to the hollowshaft 42. This rotation in I turn is transmitted through gears 41 and to to shaft 39 and from the latter through The turning of this latter shaft because of its rack and pinion connection with the screw-threaded. rod 25 shifts the latter longitudinally at the same time moving the support 17 and the cutter head 14: inwardly or outwardly in accordance with the direction of the previous turning of handle 63. It is apparent then that as soon as handle 63 is moved the planer'head" begins to movealso. Handle 75 having been freed by the shifting of handle .63, it is now turned by the operator, who first lifts the dog 78 out of the notch .1 which it happens to be, and swings the handle around until the dog is opposite the graduation on scale 79 corresponding to the adjustment of the planer head desired. The workman then releases the dog and allows its foot to enter the notch opposite the graduation'thereby locking the handle to the gear 37 and to the scale 79 which is fastened to the gear. Attention is direct-ed to the fact that as soon as handle 75 is swung away from. its normal vertical position its segment 7 6 passes behind the rear end of one of the fingers or lugs 77 of handle 63 thereby preventing spring 70 or 71 .from returning handle. 63 to its normal central position until the, scale handle 75 has been moved with gear37 and scale 79 to its ordinary vertical position at which time handle 63 is freedor released so that its springs may return it to normal position with both lugs 77 overlapping the two ends of the segment, As soon as handle 63 resumes its-normal position the clutch which in the .meantime has been active is rendered inoperative and no further travel; of the planer head: occurs,

it at this time having traveled an amount such that it is brought to a position corresponding to the graduation opposite the locking dog of handle 75.

It should be noted that the graduation on scale 79 at the normal vertical position of handle always corresponds to the adjustment of the planer head regardless of whether the parts are moving or are at rest and also regardless of whet-her or not handle 7 5 is in its ordinary vertical position or is displaced to one side. The workman merely has to operate the handles 63 and 75 locking the latter to the scale opposite the proper graduation and then he can leave the machine alone and the adjusting device will automatically bring the planer head to the position desired and stop it at that point without further attention on the part of the operator.

If for any reason the planer head cannot move as for example by the presence of a board between the head and the guide 13 no injury results to the apparatus by the operator attempting to secure an automatic adjustment since the frictional connection between gear 4a and disk 43 permits the gear to turn without a rotation of the hollow shaft 42, it being understood that the rotation of this latter shaft is prevented by the inability of the planer head to move toward the guide 13.

A line manual adjustment of the head may be readily secured by applying a wrench. or handle to the angular end of rod 25 and turning the rod so that the head is moved because of the threaded connection between the rod and head. It should be noted that both handles 63 and 7 5 control the double clutch, the former directly and the latter in directly by preventing the former from resuming its normal position corresponding to the inactive condition of both clutches.

I have described above the construction and operation of a desirable embodiment of my invention but it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of other embodiments and that numerous minor me chanical changes may be made in the device shown and described without departure from my invention, for example, instead of using the separate scale 7 9 fastened to the gear 37, I may make the graduation on the gear itself as is illustrated in Fig. 6. The manual screw-thread adjustment of the planer head may be wholly omitted if desired, and the rod 25 may be cylindrical and supplied with no screw threads. Other changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and such. changes may be made in the structure described without sacrificing the benefits and advantages of the invention.

It will be noted that in the operation of the machine described above one or the other clutch is rendered active and operative as soon as handle 68 is shifted to one side to tion, and the workman,

unlock handle 7 The result is that gear 37 and scale 79 begin to move immediately, and that the lz'xcl ing dog of handle 75 has to he slipped into the proper notch. of the scale while the latter is rotating. In those machines whorc the parts move slowly this is not objectionable, but in other cases I find it desirable to have the gears still or stationary while the scale handle is being turned to the adjustment wanted, and to meet this need I have devised the structure shown in Figs. 7 and S. This device is substantially like that set forth above, except that instead. of a single handle 63 I use two horizontal iandlcs S0 and 81, both being rotatably mounted on the upright bolt or shaft 67. The controlling handle is connected to the clutches by link (it, as is the handle (33 in the form of device described abov 1, and this handle is spring pressed to central normal position by springs 70 and 71 acting on rod 72. Handle 80 has a transverse strip or curved flat portion 82 centrally apertured at 83 to accommodate the lower end of a locking pin S lvertically slidablo through a locking handle 81 and adapted to be actuated by a spring-pressed handle 85 pivoted on ham dle or lever 81. it its inner end and on op posite sides of bolt 07 the lover or handle S1 has lateral extensions 86 equipped at their ends with projections or stop lugs 87 which in the normal and inactive condition of the parts overlap the ends of segment 76 on handle 75.

The operation of this modified structure is as follows: Fig. 8 shows the parts in normal positions, levers or handles 80 and 81 being in central position and locked together by pin S ithe end. of which is seated in recess or hole 83 so that the two lovers or handles in effect constitute a single handle or lever, the fingers or lugs 87 overlying the ends of segment 76 whereby handle 75 is locked in normal vertical position. To change the adjustment of the planer head, the operator asps handle 81, presses the handle 85 to lift the locking pin 84: out of recess 83, and then swings handle 81 a small.

amount to one side or the other according to i the desired direction of n'iovement of the planer head. This turning of handle 81 is slight but is suflicient, however, to remove one finger or lug 87 forwardly away from one end of segment 76, the other finger or lug 87 passing further over the other end of the segment, as is shown in Fig. 7. Scale handle 7 5 is now free to move in one direca fter releasing the dog 78 from the notch of the gear in which. it is resting, turns the handle until the dog is opposite the graduation on the scale correspending to the desired adjustment of the planer head, and allows the dog to enter the notch or space between the teeth of gear 37 opposite this graduation. The above-menof segment 76.

'78 co-acting with the turn of said tionedj shiftingof handle 81 isrco mpara- V" tively slight, and the pin 84: rides on the top surface of the curved flat portion 82 of handle 80. The workman now turns handle 80 in i the same direction as the previous. shifting of clutch. into through handle 80 so that one ofthe. fingers or lugs 87 is pressed against the front face Gear 37 and-handle locked thereto are now being rotated by the shaft of the. gear, and when handle 75 reaches its normal vertical position the planer head will have been adjusted the proper amount, and the displaced lug 87 which has been riding on theface of the segment slips over its end, locking handle 75 in upright position. This vreturn of the segment and upright handle to normal posi-' tion allows the joined or united handles or levers and 81 to resume their central position under the spring pressure exerted upon them and in this manner the active clutch is made inactive, whereby the movement of all of the parts ceases with the planer head in properly adjusted position. It should be noticed that with this device the gear and scale do not begin to turn until handle 80 is shifted, which does not occur until handle 75 has been clutched or locked to thegear;

in both forms of my device the lugs 77 or ends of segment 7 6 when handle 77 is in its normal position, act to maintain the adjustable member, a scale handle movable both with and relatively to said scale, means for locking said scalehandle at any set position on said scale, controlling means for throwing said adjusting means into and out of operation, means acting on said controlling means to shift the same and throw said adjusting means out of operation, means to move said scale and scale handle simultaneously with the movement of said 'adjustable member, a second handle governing the operation ofsaid controlling means, the normal position of each of said adjusting means, and means cooperating with said handles which prevents the re governing handle to'its normal handle 81, thereby throwing one action, and, when thislower handle comes directly beneath the uppei f said scale handle in planer head in position so that no crowding can displace 1t,"rotat1on said handles corresponding to the inoperative condition of positionv afterit has been displaced and thrown said adjusting means into operation until said scale mal position and the adjustable member has 1 reached the scale handle on thescale, substantially as de handle has resumed its noradjustment indicated by the scribed.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an adjustable member, a i-iormally-idle adjusting means therefor, a movable scale graduated to correspond to the various positions assu-inable by said ad just-able member, a scale handle movable both with and relativel r to said scale, means for locking said scale handle at any set position on said scale, controlling means for throwing said ad usting means into and out of operation, means acting on said controlling means toshift the same and throw said adjusting means out of operation, means to move saidscale and scale handle simultaneously with the movement of said adjustable member, a second handle g0verning said controlling means, the normal position of each of said handles corresponding to the inoperative condition of said adjusting means, and means co-act1ng with said handles which prevents the return of said governing handle to normal position after it has been displaced andthrown said adj u'sting means into operation until said scale handle has resumed its normal position and the adjustable member has reached the adjustment indicated by the. scale handle on the scale, said co-acting means also looking normal position when said governing handle is in its normal position, substantially as descibed.

' In adevice of the character described,

thejcombina'tion of an adjustable member, a

normally-idle adjusting means therefor, a movable scale graduated to correspond to the various positions assiimable by said adjustable member, a scale handle movable both with and relatively to said scale, means for locking said scaleha'ndle at any set position on said scale, controlling means for throwingsaid adjusting means into and out of operation, means acting on said controlling means to shift the same and throw said adjusting means out of operation, means to move said scale and scale handle simultaneously with the movement of said adjustable member,v a second handle governing said controlling means, each of said handles having a normal position corresponding to the inoperative condition of said adjusting means, a segment movable with said scale handle, ,lugs actuated by said second handle and adapted in the normal positions of both handles to overlap the ends of said segment whereby movement of said scale handle is prevented without first moving said second handle, either of said lugs being adapted to ride on said segment when said scale handle is displaced from its normal position whereby said second handle is prevented from reand the adjustable member has reached the adjustment indicated by the scale-handle on the scale, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of an adjustable member, a normally-idle adjusting means therefor, a movable scale graduated to correspond to the various positions assumable by said adjustable member, a scale handle movable both with and relatively to said scale, means for locking said scale handle at any set position on said scale, controlling means for throwing said adjusting means into and out of operation, means acting on said controlling means to shift the same and throw said adjusting means out of operation,means to move said scale and scale handle simultaneously with the movement of said adjustable member, a second handle governing said controllingmeans, a third handle to lock and 'unlock said scale handle, each of said handles having a normal position corresponding to the inoperative condition of said adjusting means, means to lock said second and third handles together, and means between said scale handle and third handle to prevent the return of said second and third handles to their normal positions when locked together after they have been displaced to throw said adjusting means into operation until said scale handle has resumed its normal position and the adjustable member has reached the adjustment indicated by the scale handle on the scale, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of an adjustable member, a normally-idle adjusting means therefor, a movable scale graduated to correspond to the various positions assumable by said adj ustable member, a scale handle movable both with and relatively to said scale, means for locking said scale handle at any set p0 sition on said scale, controlling means for throwing said adjusting means into and out of operation, means to move said scale and scale handle simultaneously with the movement of said adjustable member, a second handle governing said controlling means, a

third handle to lock and unlock said scale handle, each of said handles having a normal position corresponding to the inoperative condition of said adjusting means, means acting on said second handle to return it to normal position, means to lock said second and third handles together, and means bet veen said scale handle and third handle to prevent the return of said second and third handles to their normal position when locked together until said scale handle has reached its normal position and the adj ustablc member has assumed the adjustment indicated by the scale handle on the scale, substantially as described. 7

(5. In a device of the character described, the combination of an adjustable member, a normally-idle adjusting means therefor, a movable scale graduated to correspond to the various positions assumahle by said adjustable member, a scale handle movable both with and relatively to said scale, means for locking said scale handle at any set position on said scale, controlling means for throwing said adjusting means into and out of operation, means to move said scale and scale handle sinmltaneously with the movement of said adjustable member, a second handle governing said controlling means, a third handle to lock and unlock said scale handle, each of said handles having a normal position corresponding to the inoperative condition of said adjusting means, means acting on said second handle to return it to normal position, means to locl: said second and third handles together, and means between said scale handle and third handle which prevents the return of said second and third handles to normal position when locked together until said scale handle has return-ed to its normal position and the ad justable m unber has riached the adjustment indicated on said scale by said scale handle, said'lattcr means locking said sale handle in its normal position when the third handle is in its normal position, substantially as described.

HARRY B. ROSS.

\Vitnesses Fnnnniuon G. Goonwm, \VALTER M. FULLER. 

